Child refugees who risked their lives to reach Staffordshire will now be given English lessons and extra support thanks to nearly £500,000 of new Government funding.

Staffordshire County Council is currently supporting 154 unaccompanied asylum seeker children and care leavers – most of whom arrived in the county after jumping off lorries at M6 service stations.

The authority has now been allocated £483,000 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to improve services.

Mark Sutton, cabinet member for children and young, said: “We have a duty to ensure children who have risked their lives to come to this country are supported to be an integral part of their community, and are able to make a positive contribution.

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“This funding will support the unaccompanied asylum-seeking children we currently have in Staffordshire by helping to provide specialist English language teaching, numeracy, IT and citizenship skills.

Staffordshire County Council is supporting 154 child refugees or care leavers

“While more needs to be done to stop these children making that perilous journey and risking their lives, we have a duty to protect and support all children in our care, including those seeking asylum in Staffordshire.”

This funding includes £298,527 from a £9 million Controlling Migration Fund pot following a successful bid from the county council.

Staffordshire’s bid focused on ‘the key issues of integration and English language provision’. The money will pay for community development workers to involve child refugees in activities, along with English classes, numeracy, IT and citizenship.

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Communities Minister Lord Bourne said: “We have a proud history of hosting, supporting and protecting those in need, including some of the most vulnerable children. This new funding will enable more councils across England to provide support to those children who need a place to call home.

“The funds will also bring a range of benefits to the whole community by increasing the number of foster carers available and reducing pressures on existing services.

“We are grateful to councils who continue to provide care and support to vulnerable children, and it’s encouraging to hear of the enthusiasm among councils in welcoming more children to their areas, especially where they haven’t had an opportunity to do so previously.”